Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Hebrews 1:14
Throughout the Bible we see angels intervening in the lives of saints. This is true in the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the Old Testament we see Daniel in the lion's den, and the angels keeping the mouths of the lion's shut. We also see an angel block a prophet and his donkey, so he won't speak against Israel. This is the same time the donkey talks to his owner. In the New Testament, angels opened the doors of prisons to release Peter and others. An angel also stood by Paul when his ship was in a storm and about to be shipwrecked.
These stories tell of the great things angels do, but they don't show the spiritual battle that took place in the heavenlies before the saint got rescued. In Daniel 10 we read that there are princes of darkness that try to block our angels from helping us. I believe this is happening all the time. Our angels are fighting for us, and as we praise the Lord and pray, we are helping them. As soon as you have a desire, they go to work to bring it to pass, but if you're not built up spiritually, you might not seize the victory.
As an example, maybe the Lord had angels get you in position for a certain new job or promotion; however, because of certain habits or beliefs, you were unable to receive that promotion, and it went to someone else. Some Christians have a distorted idea that humilty equals poverty. When your angels get you in position for the new job, the words you've been speaking can keep you from receiving that job. This wouldn't be the only reason you didn't get the job. This was just an example how our angels work, and how we can hinder their work. I'm convinced that every time we get a better job or get a big promotion, angels are invovled.
Psalm 23 and Psalm 91 talk about angelic protection. I've heard many stories of people in accidents, and how an angel rescued them then disappeared. I remember driving my SUV one time, and I know an angel was involved in helping me avoid an accident. To this day, I count that as a miracle that saved my life. Thanksgiving is part of the Christian walk, and we should always be thanking the Lord for the angels He sends to protect us.
My story
When I was born, I had several problems with my digestive system. I weighed over eight
pounds at birth, but only weighed 6 pounds several months later. This is a time when
babies are supposed
to be gaining weight. Anyway, my parents took me to several doctors, but nothing was
working out. After many months of this, my mom knew I had serious problems, so she took
me to one of the best children's hospitals around.
As soon as we got into the emergency room, a nurse took my mom and I back to a room, and said something like, "Let him deal with the paperwork", while my Dad stood in line to check me into the hospital. She then proceeded to hook me up to all sorts of machines, and then left before my mom could thank her. Several hours later, my mom asked around to try to find her. The nurse was a short, overweight African-American lady, but the staff at the hospital said no one worked there that fit that description. I believe she was an angel sent by God to help me.
The Bible says many times we will "entertain" angels without even knowing it. Jesus said that children have angels constantly going before God. So, I believe my story goes along with both of these verses. I would even venture to say that we get our angels when we are in the womb, and we keep them as adults. Thank the Lord He has given us angels to help us in this life.
Below I've included some scriptures related to angels in the Bible.
And when the morning arose, then the angels* hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. Genesis 19:15
And the angel* of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. Genesis 31:11
Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel* of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. Numbers 22:31
The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. Psalms 34:7
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Psalm 91:11-12
Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Daniel 6:19-22
*sometimes the word "angel" in the Old Testament refers to the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ.
New Testament Scriptures
Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you,
That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 18:10
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. Luke 1:30
And the angel said unto them (shepherds), Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11
But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them (apostles) forth, and said, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. Acts 5:19-20
And the angel** of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. Acts 8:26
He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. Acts 10:3-4 (we should not seek guidance from angels, but it might come that way)
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. 11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod Acts 12:7,11 (angels can deliver us)
And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him (Herod), because he gave not God the glory Acts 12:23
For there stood by me this night the angel** of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, 24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Acts 27:23-24
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.*** 2 Corinthians 11:14
But though we, or an angel*** from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:8
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (the rapture)
And let all the angels of God worship him (Jesus). 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? Hebrews 1:6,14
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Hebrews 2:16 (Jesus is a man. Humans are spirits with a body, not angels.)
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Revelation 3:5
**we should not seek guidance from angels, but it might come that way. ***Sometimes a vision or angel is not from God. The experience must be validated by the Bible, the Word of God.